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In recent years there has been a strong global trend toward increasing regional integration in the areas of trade and investment. Sub-Saharan Africa has a number of regional economic communities (RECs), each with similar goals of fostering cooperation and a degree of economic integration-typically as free trade areas, customs unions (free trade area with common external tariffs), or monetary unions.

The United States has $14.1 billion in total (two ways) goods trade with COMESA countries during 2013. Goods exports totaled $8.4 billion; Imports totaled $5.7 billion. The U.S. goods trade surplus with the COMESA countries was $2.7 billion in 2013.

Exports

U.S. goods exports to COMESA in 2013 were $8.4 billion, down 6.0% ($536 million) from 2012.

Roughly 62% of U.S. exports to COMESA went to Egypt in 2013. The top U.S. export markets in COMESA for 2013 were: Egypt ($5.2 billion), Libya ($812 million), Ethiopia ($678 million), Kenya ($651 million), and Djibouti ($170 million).

The United States has $1.8 billion in total (two way) goods trade with the Eastern African Community (EAC) during 2013. Exports totaled $1.2 billion; Imports totaled $597 million; The U.S. goods trade surplus with the EAC was $642 million in 2013.

Exports

U.S. goods exports to the EAC in 2013 were $1.2 billion, up 28.4% ($274 million) from 2012.

EAC countries combined would have been the United States' 73rd largest goods export market in 2013.

The United States has $17 billion in total (two ways) goods trade with SACU countries during 2013. Goods exports totaled $7.6 billion; Imports totaled $9.4 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with SACU countries was $1.8 billion in 2013.

Exports

U.S. goods exports to SACU in 2013 were $7.6 billion, down 3.0% ($236 million) from 2013.

The SACU Countries, together would rank 35th as an export market for the United States in 2013.

Roughly 96% of U.S. exports to SACU went to South Africa in 2013. The U.S. export markets in SACU for 2013 were: South Africa ($7.3 billion) Namibia ($207 million), Botswana ($82 million), Swaziland ($23 million), and Lesotho ($644 thousand).

U.S. goods imports from SACU totaled $9.4 billion in 2013, down 0.6% ($59 million) from 2012.

The SACU Countries, together, would rank 36th as the largest supplier of imports to the United States in 2013.

Roughly 90% of U.S. imports from SACU were from South Africa. The U.S. import suppliers from SACU for 2013 were: South Africa ($8.5 billion), Lesotho ($359 million), Botswana ($283 million), Namibia ($263 million), and Swaziland ($59 million).

Members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (also known by its French acronym UEMOA) are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. UEMOA member countries are working toward greater regional integration with unified external tariffs.

The United States has a $3.1 billion in total (two-way) goods trade with UMEOA in 2013. Exports totaled $2.1 billion; Imports totaled $1.0 billion; The U.S. goods trade surplus with UMEOA was $1.1 billion in 2013.

Exports

U.S. goods exports to UMEOA countries in 2013 were $2.1 billion, up 48.0% ($695 million) from 2012.

UEMOA countries combined would have been the United States' 59th largest goods export market in 2013.